Families
Even children and youth who regularly attend church and Christian formation typically spend no more than 2-4 hours at church each week. Children’s first and primary faith mentors are their parents or guardians. This means that faith is primarily formed in the home. Here are some resources for helping families journey in faith together.
Online Resources
Building Faith is an extensive formation website curated by Virginia Theological Seminary (VTS) that includes a section on faith resources for the home. New articles are posted regularly and faith leaders and parents can choose to receive email notifications when items are added.
Grow Christians is a “community of disciples practicing faith at home.” The group blog consists of reflections, stories, images, and recipes from Episcopalians all over, inspiring families to celebrate the presence of God through the Christian year.
Choosing a Children’s Bible
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Nourishing Faith
Stories of God at Home: A Godly Play Approach
By Jerome Berryman
In his latest book, the creator of Godly Play, Jerome Berryman, talks about nourishing faith through storytelling in the home: the importance of storytelling; how to present stories of God at home, weaving them together with one’s family stories; and reading classical children’s books, looking for connections between them and the stories of God. This book invites families to set aside intentional time for sharing stories and conversation, opening up the creative process and making meaning together.
Faithful Families: Creating Sacred Moments at Home
By Traci Smith
Faithful Families encourages families to add spiritual practices into their daily life, with a focus on transforming everyday moments into sacred moments.
Sacred Dwelling: A Spirituality of Family Life
By Wendy M. Wright and Santa Murphy, illustrator
A book that’s great for that Sunday afternoon (or bed time or anytime) read with the family.
Living in God’s Time: A Parent’s Guide to Nurturing Children throughout the Christian Year
By Margaret Persky
This is a great idea mine for incorporating the liturgical calendar into our “out of church” lives.
The Family Cloister: Benedictine Wisdom for the Home
By David Robinson
St. Benedict’s very practical rule of life for a monastery (everything, from prayer to laundry, eating to gardening, is done with a heart oriented toward God) is applied to life in a family.
Children’s Books
By Siska Goeminne and Merel Eyckerman
This is a gentle book about the gift of our uniqueness–our unique personalities, ways of life and belief, and physical appearances. Read more >